Device explodes at Ariz. Social Security office

Nov. 30, 2012
|

by D.S. Woodfill and Ed Tribble, The Arizona Republic

by D.S. Woodfill and Ed Tribble, The Arizona Republic

PHOENIX -- Authorities have a man in custody Friday after the bombing of a government office building in downtown Casa Grande, sources close to the case say.

The bomb rocked the Social Security Administration office at 501 N. Marshall Street when it detonated behind the building at about 8 a.m., rattling nerves, shaking buildings and setting off car alarms in the area.

The FBI is leading a team of investigators that includes the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and local law enforcement.

Officials from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Phoenix and the FBI field office would not comment, but The Arizona Republic and 12 News learned that a man has been in custody since about 9 a.m.

The office building, which normally has 14 workers, was closed, according to Social Security Administration officials. However, the fireball charred and blackened a back entrance to the building.

No one was killed or was reported injured. The amount of damage has not been released.

FBI spokesman Manuel Johnson said he could not confirm or deny an arrest was made. He would not say if the agency was working any investigative leads.

"This thing is fluid," Johnson said. "There are (other) agencies involved at this point and it would be really premature for me to start speculating."

John Lopez, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona, would not comment and referred questions to the FBI.

Patricia Raymond, a spokeswoman at the Social Security Administration's regional office in San Francisco, said the building was closed at the time because it was before business hours.

Emily Bradford, a server at the Big House Cafe next door to the Social Security building, said the bomb "shook our whole building" and set off car alarms in the neighborhood.

"Everyone fled form the restaurant to see what what was going on," she said.

Bradford said the backdoor was on fire and flames shot above the building.

Erin Bush, manager of the a nearby Three G's Flowers and Candle Store flower shop, said the explosion terrified her.

"I about fell out of my freaking chair," she said. "I'm still shaking from it."

Bush said she walked outside and saw billowing smoke from the building and firefighters from a nearby station running in the direction of the explosion. A police station is also nearby.

"I have never in my life heard a boom like that," she said. "It literally shook the windows."

Richard Rose, a supervisor at a nearby Dairy Queen, said the boom was louder than anything he's heard in action films in a movie theater.

"It was way louder than a car accident," he said trying to describe the boom.

Rose said he saw officers from the nearby police station running toward the Social Security office.

Ed Mouradian was at the scene after the blast. His wife, Faith, is an employee in the building and said he got a call from one of his wife's co-workers about the explosion.

"She was crying and extremely upset," Mouradian said. "I am concerned for all the employees' well-beings. It's a small office that's very tight-knit."

Rosa Flores said she was driving through the area when she saw the smoke.

"The building was all smoked up, black," she said. It must have blown up and all black smoke moved over the wall."

"You would never think something like this would happen," she added. "But you never know what is going through somebody's mind."